MANKATO, Minn. -- Only hours earlier, his son had been cut from the team and now faces a possible ban from campus for his alleged role in an assault that has left a man clinging to life, but Philip Nelsons' father wore a black Rutgers cap as he mowed his lawn before the sun set Tuesday.

"You have to feel sorry for [all] of them," said James Simpson, an alumnus of the University of Minnesota-Mankato who had just finished shopping at a grocery store across the street from West High, where Nelson was a star quarterback. "In those few moments, it’s basically going to change their lives."

Trevor Shelley, 21, was arrested Monday evening, the Mankato Department of Public Safety announced late Tuesday morning. Shelley allegedly threw a punch that knocked out Kolstad, who lay unconscious on the ground as police say Nelson kicked Kolstad in the head at least once. Shelley was identified and apprehended after a two-day manhunt that included the release of photos and videos and a request for help from the public to identify Shelley, who allegedly was captured in the surveillance-camera images.

Shelley's father, Scott, had no comment when approached at his St. Peter house Tuesday afternoon by NJ.com.

Trevor Shelley is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning. His bail could be more than the bond Nelson posted ($20,000 before his Monday release) because Shelley fled the scene.

Trevor Shelley and Nelson attended West High, but it's unclear if they worked in tandem during the allaged assault. Blue Earth County assistant district attorney Patrick McDermott and Nelson's defense attorney, Jim Fleming, told NJ.com they didn't know what connection between the two -- if any -- exists. A source told NJ.com on Monday that Shelley and Nelson were friends.

West High athletic director Brian Fell had no comment on Tuesday as the school hosted a track meet, a softball game and a tennis match.

Kolstad continued to fight for his life in a Mankato hospital. He suffered "bleeding in the brain, a skull fracture, brain swelling, brain shifting and deterioration of the lungs from the lack of oxygen," according to Nelson's criminal complaint.

View full sizeTrevor Stenner Shelley, 21, of St. Peter, Minn, was arrested in the assault case involving former Rutgers quarterback Philip Nelson. (Blue Earth County Jail)

Kolstad's father, Blaine, wrote on CaringBridge.com that his son underwent surgery Tuesday morning and "it went well." Kolstad remained in critical condition as of Tuesday evening, according to a hospital spokesman.

If Kolstad dies, McDermott told NJ.com "more charges are possible.”

There were already repercussions for Nelson, who -- like Shelley --- faces as many as 25 years in prison. Nelson was kicked off the team by Rutgers on Tuesday morning -- only five months after he had transferred from the University of Minnesota.

Fleming said his office continues "gathering information and conducting our own investigation to get a handle on what we understand the facts to be.” Fleming insists that Nelson was not the instigator in the incident, pointing to the criminal complaint, which says Kolstad threw the first blow.

Fleming expects Nelson to be back in court within the next six weeks for an omnibus hearing, Minnesota’s version of a pretrial hearing.